The presidency has explained why
the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, was absent at the Federal
Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Thursday.

It said the minister was in Saudi
Arabia.

Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, confirmed this to
journalists.

Dambazzau is one of the top
government officials who have been in the eye of the storm, over the
reinstatement and deployment of the former Chairman of the Presidential Task
Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.

The Attorney-General of the
Federation, Abubakar Malami and the Head of the Civil Service of the
Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, who were also mentioned in the case, were however
present in the cabinet meeting yesterday.

The meeting which was held at the
Council Chambers in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was presided over by
President Muhammadu Buhari.